Would You Buy a Netbook That Only Runs An Internet Browser? [Poll]

This week Google officially announced all of the details surrounding their latest netbook build, the Chromebook. When put up against other netbooks and tablet-pcs on the market, the Chromebook doesn’t really standout from a hardware perspective. No, what makes these little machines unique is their operating system -which really isn’t an operating system by normal standards.

Chromebooks obviously run on Google’s self-brewed operating system, Chrome OS. The OS doesn’t allow applications to be locally installed, but it also doesn’t require antiv-virus software because the netbook itself is very secure. The entire OS is basically the Google Chrome web browser, made bootable, with a few extra perks thrown in. If you do find that you need to run a desktop app, you can stream them from a remote Windows Server using a new piece of software called Citrix Receiver.

Performance wise, the Chromebooks run great. It has a boot-up time of 8 seconds, and resumes from sleep/hibernation instantly. The internal system specs are similar to what you would find in any other netbook, but the OS is so simple that it runs faster than everything else out there. The big tradeoff is that you’re limited to the web and remote applications, which Google would argue really isn’t a limitation at all.

Chromebooks go on sale June 15, 2011 in both the U.S. and Europe. There are 2 different models launching, and a WiFi or 3G variation of each. The 3G model has a big advantage over the WiFi model: 100MB per month of free data for the lifetime of the device (via Verizon Wireless in the U.S.). If the free 100MB doesn’t cut it, you can always pay up for an expanded 3G service with your wireless carrier.With that said, I can’t figure out why anyone wouldn’t want to dish out an extra $70 for lifetime 3G. Samsung is making the slightly higher-end model priced at $499 ($429 for WiFi-only) and the Acer model is only $419 ($349 WiFi-only). These are fairly typical prices for netbooks and doesn’t really make them stand out, but Google is doing a couple things differently that they hope will make the Chromebook a “gamechanger” for businesses and schools; a subscription service.

Google’s Take On Hardware As a Service

Amazon.com has been offering hardware services ever since they launched Amazon Web Services back in 2002. Since then, it has been extremely successful and even helped out several companies simplify their networks. Google’s now stepping into the same forte, but their approach might not prove to be as successful.

Chromebooks are available in a subscription plan for Enterprise and Education customers, but as always, there is some fine print. The subscription services requires a 10-device minimum from your organization. Also, the subscription service requires a 3-year unbreakable contract. Put at $31 a month for the cheapest 3G version, you are looking at a cost of $1,116 per Chromebook.

Here’s the important question: for the extra cost of $697 per Chromebook, exactly what bonuses do you get over the 3-year contract?

Full Warranty and “regular hardware refreshes”

A organization-wide device management console (may still be available without subscription)

Google Tech Support

Google hasn’t released much information on the warranty service yet, but we’re guessing it will just cover the basics in the way a manufacturers warranty does; that means if you throw it in a river Google probably won’t replace it for you. The organization management console likely including the ChromeBox, which is just a desktop-type equivalent of a Chromebook. Direct Google tech-support could be a big bonus, but with a device as simple as a Chromebook –do you really think you’ll need it? The final clincher, this doesn’t include free Google Apps accounts.

Conclusion

The Chromebook is a great buy for someone who just wants to browse the web, and doesn’t mind a smaller ~12 inch screen. It might not be for everyone, and the subscription plan is probably only for the few, though I think Google is on the right track to something big. By simplifying the way we use computers Google is dissolving compatibility issues, local backups, annoying updates, and security vulnerabilities. But at the same time, as the leader in “cloud computing” Google could just be trying to lock you into their services (i.e. why the subscription model doesn’t include free Google Apps accounts).

So what do you think?

More Reading:

About Austin Krause

Austin Krause is a groovyPost founding senior editor based in Tampa Bay, FL.

6 Responses to Would You Buy a Netbook That Only Runs An Internet Browser? [Poll]

I would buy one, but only if those prices weren’t so high. Having in mind that EVERYTHING will be on the web, you don’t need a big hard drive, an epic video card or a fast processor for that matter, so I don’t really see what I am spending those 400 bucks on… Chrome OS is OK, but in my eyes it will just be a good Dual-Boot alternative to any laptops out there that need to instantly get on the web ONCE IN A WHILE… Anyway, great article! 🙂

yeah… no chance I’d lock myself into a netbook for 3 years. Technology changes so far that’s even worse than a phone. Now if I could rent it for $15 a month and cancel anytime I want, I’d take it. Just let me pick it up at a local starbucks and I’d be good to go.

I know people that would really benefit form a Chromebook. They really don’t need anything else. Currently I probably could go that route also but it would require some hoop jumping but it is doable. I expect that in a year it won’t require any serious hoop jumping as web apps will be much further along than they are today.

The big deal, imo, is PNaCl. It hasn’t done a lot over the last year–apparently they rebuilt the entire framework. However, if they can get it to take off we’ll see a flood of quality Chrome apps.

Hell No. Google’s people are on drugs. I’m just laughing @ them. What are they thinking? I was expecting like 20-100 bucks for just a browsing unit. [email protected]$500. $800 can get a [email protected] I7 sandy bridge system. [email protected] Who ever buys into this, are fools themselves.

I want a system which allows me to buy a new system when my previous system is broken or outdated….and have only to put in a password to function on the new system exactly as I did on the last day I used my previous system.

But, there are things I DO NOT WANT IN THE CLOUD! I keep those things in Exel, Word and Outlook (contacts). I want Chrome in the cloud and outlook, exel, and word (backed up in flash drives) in the hard drive.

I Microsoft has come to grips with creating Office for Mac, why not office for Chrome?